1. Kaziranga National Park is located along which Indian River?
[A] Ganga
[B] Yamuna
[C] Brahmaputra
[D] Sutlej
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Brahmaputra]
Notes:
Kaziranga National Park is a protected area in Assam, spread along the Brahmaputra River. The National Park has successfully completed 14th Rhino Census in 2022.
There was increase of 200 one-horned rhinoceros from the 2018 figures even though 400 deaths were recorded mainly due to natural causes. With 903 females, 750 males, juvenile category and calves, the total population of one-horned rhinos is 2,613.
2. The Lok Sabha passed a bill to merge three municipal corporations of which city into a single entity?
[A] Mumbai
[B] Delhi
[C] Kolkata
[D] Chennai
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Delhi]
Notes:
The Lok Sabha passed the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill seeks to unify the three municipal corporations of Delhi into a single and integrated entity, for better planning and optimal utilisation of resources.
Through the bill, the Centre proposed to appoint a ‘Special officer’ who will discharge the functions of the elected wing of councillors till the meeting of the new corporation is held. The bill is expected to give more autonomy to the unified corporation.
3. Shahi Litchi earned the GI tag from which Indian state?
[A] Bihar
[B] Uttar Pradesh
[C] Madhya Pradesh
[D] Uttarakhand
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bihar]
Notes:
The Centre through Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) is facilitating trial shipments into new global markets for Indian niche G-I tagged agricultural products.
Bihar’s GI tagged Shahi Litchi was exported from Muzaffarpur district of Bihar to London last year. As on date, there are 417 registered GI products and of them, around 150 GI tagged products are agricultural and food products.
4. The ‘Unbox Me campaign’, which was launched recently, is associated with which day?
[A] International Transgender Day of Visibility
[B] Zero Discrimination Day
[C] World Humanitarian Day
[D] International Day for People of African Descent
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [International Transgender Day of Visibility]
Notes:
International Transgender Day of Visibility is observed on March 31. The USAID launched an initiative called ‘Unbox Me campaign’, which advocates for the rights of transgender children.
It aims to raise awareness among parents, teachers and the society about gender identity during childhood. The campaign originated in India, where more than 90 per cent of transgender people leave their homes, or sent out, by the age of 15.
5. What is the interest rate of the ‘Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana’ scheme as of March 2022?
[A] 7.1 %
[B] 7.6 %
[C] 8.1 %
[D] 8.6 %
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [7.6 %]
Notes:
The government has decided to maintain the status quo on interest rates of small savings instruments for the April-June quarter.
The interest rate of the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is 7.6 per cent while the Public Provident Fund (PPF) fetches 7.1 per cent. Interest rates on small saving schemes are reset on a quarterly basis, tracking the movement in benchmark government bonds.
6. As per data from the Finance Ministry, what is the estimated amount to be borrowed by India in the first half of 2022-23?
[A] Rs 1.45 trillion
[B] Rs 4.45 trillion
[C] Rs 8.45 trillion
[D] Rs 12.45 trillion
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Rs 8.45 trillion]
Notes:
The Finance Ministry announced that the Union government is looking to raise Rs 8.45 lakh crore through borrowings in the first half of 2022-23.
The borrowing is set to be made to fund the revenue gap for reviving the economy. Out of the market borrowing of Rs 14.31 lakh crore estimated for the next financial year, Rs 8.45 lakh crore is planned to be borrowed in the first half or April-September period.
7. Which Indian city is to be covered with Artificial Intelligence-based cameras, as part of Road Safety Project?
[A] Chennai
[B] Kozhikode
[C] Mumbai
[D] New Delhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kozhikode]
Notes:
About sixty Artificial Intelligence-based cameras are to be installed around the Kozhikode city of Kerala, as a part of the State-level road safety project.
This step is to be implemented for the purpose of exposing traffic rule violations and book them with solid digital evidence. Across the State, there will be 726 cameras linked to special control rooms of the enforcement squads. The state government will spend ₹225 crore for the project.
8. Which is the largest private sector bank of India by assets, as of 2022?
[A] ICICI Bank
[B] HDFC Bank
[C] Axis Bank
[D] Kotak Mahindra Bank
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [HDFC Bank]
Notes:
HDFC Bank and HDFC Limited recently announced the merger of the two entities. HDFC Bank, India’s largest private sector bank by assets, has a market cap of Rs 8.35 trillion.
HDFC Limited, India’s largest housing finance company with Assets Under Management (AUM) worth Rs 5.26 trillion and a market cap of Rs 4.44 trillion will merge with HDFC Bank. The subsidiary or associates of HDFC Limited will also be transferred to HDFC Bank, after regulatory approvals.
9. Which Indian state recently carved out 13 new districts, taking the total number to 26?
[A] Telangana
[B] Andhra Pradesh
[C] Odisha
[D] West Bengal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Andhra Pradesh]
Notes:
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy digitally inaugurated 13 new districts in the state, taking the total number to 26.
All the new districts have come into effect from April 4. The state government issued the official gazette notification for creating 13 new districts under the AP Districts Formation Act, Section 3(5).
10. As per the data from Commerce Ministry, what was India’s merchandise export figure during 2021-22?
[A] USD 218 billion
[B] USD 418 billion
[C] USD 618 billion
[D] USD 818 billion
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [USD 418 billion]
Notes:
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced that India’s merchandise exports rose to a record high of USD 418 billion in the 2021-22 fiscal.
The rise is due to the higher shipments of petroleum products, engineering goods, gems and jewellery and chemicals. India’s goods trade (exports and imports) crossed USD 1 trillion during 2021-22. India’s imports also touched an all-time high of USD 610 billion.